Kariva: Uses, Side Effects, Dosage & Reviews (2024)

What are the risks and warnings for Kariva?

If you smoke cigarettes, using combined oral contraceptives (COCs), like Kariva, raises your risk for serious health problems, such as strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots. Females age 35 years and older who smoke are at even higher risk for these problems. If you smoke, talk with your provider about safer birth control alternatives.

Kariva raises your risk of blood clots. These clots can occur anywhere in your body, including your lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE), legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT), brain (stroke), and heart (heart attack). Get emergency help right away if you have any signs of a blood clot:

If you need to have surgery, tell your provider you're taking Kariva. They might have you stop taking it 4 weeks before until 2 weeks after your surgery to lower your risk of blood clots.

Don't use Kariva if you have breast cancer because some types of breast cancer grow faster in the presence of estrogen, an ingredient in this birth control pill. To help with early breast cancer detection, you can do monthly breast self-checks at home and yearly breast exams with your healthcare provider. Call your healthcare provider if you notice any abnormal changes or feel lumps, pain, or swelling in your breasts.

Get medical help right away if you experience abnormal vagin*l bleeding, discharge, or pain during sex, since these could be signs of cervical cancer.

COCs like Kariva might raise your blood sugar and triglyceride (fat) levels. If you have diabetes, let your provider know if you experience any changes in your blood sugar. Make sure to go to all of your check-ups so your provider can monitor any changes.

Kariva and other COCs can raise your blood pressure. Your provider might ask you to check your blood pressure regularly. If you notice your blood pressure is higher while you're taking this medication, contact your provider. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, Kariva might not be the best option for you.

Headaches are a common side effect of COCs like Kariva. But, if you experience a new migraine, a migraine that's worse than normal, or a new headache that keeps coming back or is severe, call your provider so you can be checked out.

Breakthrough bleeding and spotting are common side effects of hormonal birth control pills. This is more common during the first 3 months of using Kariva. Let your provider know if you experience any vagin*l bleeding outside of your period, or if your period has stopped completely. There are other causes besides your birth control pills for irregular bleeding that your provider will evaluate.

Research suggests that females who take that COCs are at a higher risk of pregnancy occuring outside of the womb (ectopic pregnancy) if the birth control pills don't work like they're supposed to. The chance of becoming pregnant is higher when you don't take Kariva as instructed at the same time every day. Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include low back pain, abnormal vagin*l bleeding, and cramping. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your provider.

Let your provider know if you experience symptoms of depression or worsening depression while taking Kariva. In cases of serious depression, your provider might have you stop taking it.

Certain medications can make Kariva get broken down faster in your body, making it less effective and can lead to pregnancy. Some examples include carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin). Use a back-up method or other form of birth control for at least 28 days after stopping any of these medications. Other medications can raise the amount of Kariva in your body, which can lead to more side effects. Make sure to tell your provider or pharmacist all of your medications so they can make sure they don't interact with Kariva.

If you have hepatitis C and need to be treated with Viekira Pak (dasabuvir / ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir), let your provider know right away that you're taking a COC. You'll need to stop Kariva before starting Viekira Pak because taking them together can cause liver problems. You can start Kariva again 2 weeks after you stop Viekira Pak.

Kariva dosage forms

Kariva (and its branded generics) comes in a 28-day pack. Your medication might look different depending on which branded generic your provider prescribes. Please take the medication as instructed by your provider or following the directions on the package.

There are 26 active tablets and they contain different dosages of desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. In general:

• Day 1 through 21: 0.15 mg desogestrel and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol

• Day 22 through 23: Placebo tablets (hormone-free)

• Day 24 through 28: 10 mcg ethinyl estradiol only

The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth at the same time every day. Tablets must be taken in the exact order of the blister pack.